Policies

Institutions

The EU has a unique institutional set-up where broad priorities are set by the European Council; decision-making involves European Parliament, Council of the EU and European Commission and number of other institutions.

The European Commission is today launching the European Solidarity Corps, just two months after President Juncker announced it and as a first deliverable of the priorities for action identified in the Bratislava Roadmap.

The Council made further progress on preventing corporate tax avoidance, achieving a broad consensus on a draft directive. Ministers also adopted a directive granting access for tax authorities to information held by authorities responsible for the prevention of money laundering.

The Council held a policy debate on the proposal for a regulation concerning measures to safeguard the security of gas supply. It also adopted a general approach on new rules for wholesale roaming markets in the EU and agreed its position on the revision of safety rules for civil aviation.

The European Commission has unveiled a series of measures to improve the Value Added Tax (VAT) environment for e-commerce businesses in the EU. Our proposals will allow consumers and companies, in particular start-ups and SMEs, to buy and sell goods and services more easily online.

The Commission is launching the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition, together with Member States, companies, social partners, NGOs and education providers, to help meet the high demand for digital skills in Europe which are essential in today's job market and society.

The European Commission proposes a European Defence Fund and other actions to support Member States' more efficient spending in joint defence capabilities, strengthen European citizens' security and foster a competitive and innovative industrial base.

The Council adopted conclusions on measures to support early stage researchers and raise the attractiveness of scientific careers. It also agreed on a general approach to ban unjustified geo-blocking within the internal market and assessed the progress made on the single market strategy one year after its launch.

Commission takes on board findings of three evaluations, in line with its proposal to reinforce and expand the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), the core of the Investment Plan for Europe.

The Council discussed the revision of the European consensus on development, on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission. This revision will implement the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development.

The European Commission has today proposed new rules to ensure that systemic market infrastructures in the financial system, known as Central Counterparties (CCPs), can be dealt with effectively when things go wrong.

The EU should freeze accession negotiations with Turkey in light of the country's vast crackdown that followed the failed July coup, said MEPs in a resolution adopted this week. Also during this week's plenary session MEPs called on EU countries to step up cooperation on defence.

MEPs want a temporary freeze on EU accession talks with Turkey. In a resolution they say Turkey should nonetheless remain “anchored” to the EU. They also pledge to review their position when the "disproportionate repressive measures" under the state of emergency in Turkey are lifted.